Plug cluster



Dec. 1924- 1,517,680

A. P. LEINEN PLUG CLUSTER Filed May 28, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 you, J M

Jworn Q 6.

A. P. LEINEN PLUG CLUSTER Filed May 28, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,517,680 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR P. LEINEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLUG CLUSTER.

Application flled May 28, 1920. Serial No. 384,872.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. LEINEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plug Clusters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part' of this specification.

My invention relates to electrical connector devices, and more specifically pull switch plug clusters.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved electrical connector device which will be efficient and durable in use, simple in construction and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which an embodiment of my invention is shown;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pull switch plug cluster;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the plug cluster shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the receptacle part of the device;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the lower base and associated parts;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a section substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The pull swltch plug cluster shown in the drawings comprises in a general Way a plug portion 10, a pair of receptacle portions 11, and a pair of pull switch mechanisms 12 for controlling the circuit be-' tween the plug 10 and receptacle portions 11 respectively.

The plug contacts, the receptacle con tacts, the electrical connector therebetween, and the switch mechanisms 12 are supported in their proper relative position, and suitably insulated, by means of two insulating members, an upper insulating member 13 and a lower insulating member 14. The switch mechanisms 12 are located in recesses 15 in the lower insulating member 14 and the two insulating members are connected together by means of an intermediate connecting plate or strap 16, which may be a sheet metal stamping, the lower insulating member 14 being connected to this plate or strap by means of screws 17, and the upper lnsulating member 13 being connected to this strap by means of a pair of screws 18.

The screws 18 are electrically connected with the threaded shell contact 19 of the plug part 10, and the screws 17 are electrically connected'with the threaded shell contact 20 respectively, of the receptacle portions 11 so that the screws 17 and 18 not only serve to mechanically hold the two insulating members together, but also serve to electrically connect the threaded shell contacts 20 of the receptacle portions with the threaded shell contact 19 of'the plug portion, the circuit being from the shell contact 19 of the plug through screws 18, strap or plate 16, and screws 17 to the threaded shell contacts 20.

One side of each of the switch mechanisms 12 is electrically connected with the center contact 21 of the plu portion 10, and the other side of each of t e switch mechanisms 12 is electrically connected with the center contacts 22 of the receptacles 20 respectively, each of the switch mechanisms 12 thus controlling the circuit between the plug center contact 21 and one of the receptacle center contacts 22. To connect the center contact 21 of the plugportion with the switch mechanisms 12 a conducting and contact member 23 is provided, which may be a sheet metal stamping, this member 23 being provided with a pair of upstandin contact. portions 24 for cooperation with t 1e switch mechanisms 12 respectively. This conducting member 23 is electrically connected with the center contact 21 by means of a screw 25 threaded into the member 23. The conducting member 23 is secured to the lower insulating member 14 by means of a pair of screws 26 which extend through the base 14 and are threaded into the member 23. The screws 25 and 26 thus assist the screws 17 and 18 in holding the base portions 13 and 14 together.

Each of the switch mechanisms 12 comprises a ratchet operated commutator 27 which may be given a step-by-step movement by means of a pull chain 28, to alternately make or break the circuit between the center contact 21 of the plug portion and a center contact 22 of a receptacle portion.

This commutator member 27 comprises a rotatable insulating brush-carrier 28 which suports a semi-circular eccentrically mounted rush 29,which cooperates with a spring contact member 30. This spring contact member 30 comprises a pair of spring fingers 31 and 32 which cooperate with the brush 29 and the upstanding contacts 24 respectively, to make a substantial simultaneous double break when the switch is moved from on to off position. Each of the center contacts 22 is electricall connected with one side of one of the switc 1 mechanisms 12 by means of a screw 33 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) extending through a hole in the center contact member and threaded into the base of the bracket 34 on which the commutator 37 is rotatably mounted. This bracket 34 is electrically connected with the semi-circular brush 39 by means of an inwardly extending arm formed integral with the brush which may engage the upstanding portion of the bracket 34. The screw 33 not only serves to electrically connect the center contact with the switch mechanism but also serves to hold the center contact 22 and the bracket 34 in place on the insulating member 14.

In order to house the switch mechanisms 12 and cover the upper part of the insulating member 14, an ornamental sheet metal cover member 35 is provided which is held in place between the two insulating members 13 and 14, and extends over the top and down along the sides of the lower insulating member 14. In order to prevent this sheet metal cover fromcoming in contact with live parts an insulating disc 36 of sheet fibre may be placed underneath the cover and on top of the insulating member 14.

In order to house the receptacle contacts, an ornamental, hemispherical sheet metal casing member 37 is provided to receive the lower part of the insulating member 14, this casing member 37 being secured in position on the insulating member 14 by means of a screw 38 threaded into a nut 39 located in a recess in the insulating member 14. Suitable ornamental sheet metal sleeves 40 may be provided to surround the threaded shell receptacle contacts 20, these sleeves 40 being flanged over the edges of openings in the hemispherical casing member 37 to secure them thereto. In order to insulate these sleeve members 40 from the threaded shell contact 20, suitable insulating sleeves 41 of fibre or the like may be interposed between the sleeves 40 and the threaded shell contacts 20.

The circuit has been outlined in connection with the description of the construction. The shell contacts 20 of the receptacle portion are electrically connected with the shell contact 19 of the plug portion through the screws 18, the connecting member 16 and the .screws 17. Each of the center contacts 22 is electrically connected with one side of one of the switch mechanisms 12 through a screw 33 and a bracket 34. Each center contact 21 of the plug portion is electrically connected with one side of each of the switch mechanisms 12 through the screw 25 and the conducting and contact member 23. The pull chain 38, when operated, alternately makes and breaks the connection between the center contact 21 of the plug portion and the center contact 22 of one of the receptacle portions.

Although I have shown herein only one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Havin thus described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulating base and center and side plug contacts insulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connector member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connector member to said first base, comprising a screw extending through said first base, and threaded into said connector member, and means for securing said second base to said connector member, comprising a screw extending through said second base and threaded into said connector member, said connector member lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the plug, said insulating bases having opposed surfaces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced.

2. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulating base and center and side plug contacts insulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connector member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connector member to said first base, comprising-a screw extending through said first base and threaded into said connector member, means for securing said second base to said connector member, comprising a screw extendin through said second base and threaded into said connector member, and switch mechanism housed between said bases, said connector member lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the plug, said insulating bases having opposed surfaces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced.

3. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulating base and center and side plug contacts insulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connector member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connector member to said first base, comprising a screw extending through said first base, and threaded into said connector member, and means for securing said second base to said connector member, comprising a screw extending through said second base and threaded into said connector member, said connector member being of conducting material, and said first screw being electrically connected with a plug contact, said connector member lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the plug, said insulating bases having opposed surfaces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced.

4. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulating base and center and side plug contacts insulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connector member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connector member to said first base, comprising a screw extending through said first base, and threaded into said connector member, and means for securing said second base to said connector member, comprising a screw extending through said second base and threaded into said connector member, said connector member being of conducting material, said first screw being electrically connected with a plug contact, and said second screw being electrically connected with a receptacle contact, said connector member lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the pin said insulating bases having opposed sur aces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced.

5. A plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulatin base and center and side plug contacts lnsulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connector member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connector member to said first base, comprising a screw extending through said first base, and threaded into said connector member, means for securing said second base to said connector member, comprising a screw extending through said second base and threaded into said connector member, and switch mechanism housed between said bases, said connecting member being provided with switch contacts for cooperation with said switch mechanism, said connector member lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the plug, said insulating bases having opposed surfaces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced.

6. A switch plug cluster comprising a plug portion and a receptacle portion, said plug portion comprising an insulating base, and center and side plug contacts insulated from each other thereby, said receptacle portion comprising a second insulating base, and receptacle contacts mounted thereon, a connecting member lying intermediate said bases, means for securing said connecting member to said first base comprising a screw extending through said first base, and

threaded into said connecting member,

means for securing said second base to said connecting member, and switch mechanism housed between said bases, said connecting member being provided with contacts for coo ration with said switch mechanism, sai in a plane transverse to the axis of the plug, said insulating bases having opposed surfaces lying substantially in transverse planes, between which surfaces said connector member is embraced. c

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR P. LEINEN.

connector member lying substantially 

